From the President
Dear ACO Members,
This is the first issue of volume TWO of the ACO's Circle Newsletter, the only publication specifically targeting the needs and interests of ADHD Coaches. There now exists a whole year of interesting and valuable articles for ADHD Coaches, and all of them archived here for the benefit of our members. (The non members list is here: http://newsletter.adhdcoaches.org/index.html) It is just one milestone that reflects the strong foundation we have created for this professional membership organization.
Another milestone, one that's most gratifying, is that the ACO is growing faster than the Board of Directors had projected or dared hope. We start our second year with over 140 member coaches from half a dozen countries. The majority of our members are, of course, from the United States, but we also have members living in Canada, England, Spain, Norway, and Israel. And we are still growing!
Because community is also one of the things members say they value most about the ACO, I thought it would be interesting to share where we all live. Our membership list includes coaches in 34 states and 6 countries. The (already outdated) list available for members to see is here. Check the list to see which members might live near you, or, perhaps, near where you vacation. And, if you're so inspired, you might even get together with them. Community is a great thing!
The ACO is for now a virtual place where ADHD Coaches can come together to grow in supportive and successful ways. In Circle and on the web, we can talk shop with others who "get it." We can share experiences so we don't all make the same mistakes as each of us and as the profession develops. Use the Find a Coach directory to find the people who live near you. Start building an in-person community as well. Make plans to attend the conference in May to cement some real life relationships and build strength in the community of ADHD coaches.
All my best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year for you, and for all of us who together make up the ACO.
All my best,
Sarah Wright
President
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A word about membership dues
by Sarah Wright, MS, ACT
Last month we announced both a change in how we track membership dues and an increase in those annual dues.
Here's why we're making these changes.
The easiest way for ACO volunteers to manage membership renewals is with a prorated system. Starting in 2008 and going forward, all membership renewals will be due on January 1. In order to bring existing members into this system, for the 2007 calendar year only, membership renewals will also be prorated on a quarterly basis.
Starting January 1 of 2007 (or as soon as we get the code adjusted) all new members will pay based on that same system. The details are available here.
Second, the increase in dues is because the ACO needs more money. We're not just an online professional community any more. In 2007 we will have our first conference. In addition, we plan to place ads in strategic journals to bring ADHD Coaching and the ADHD Coaches Organization to the attention of the people who need to know about us.
We believe that your ACO membership dues may be the best money you ever spend.
 If you are a member you can read more on line.
Or -- Join now!
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RFP deadline for Connections 2007
has been extended
The deadline to submit a proposal to speak at the ACO Conference Connections 2007 has been extended until January 10. If you submitted a proposal and did not receive a confirmation email, please resend it.
Information about the RFP is available to member coaches here.
Registration to attend the conference will be avaialbe soon. Watch for a special mailing.
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Business planning in the new year
by Kerch McConlogue, CPCC, PCC
Quick. What's your plan for 2007?
If you say, "Make more money. Get more clients. Appear on Oprah," you probably don't really have a plan. It's likely if you get any of those things, it'll be the result of dumb luck.
Do you know what you're really planning for?
Make sure your plans are in line with what you're trying to achieve. And as well, be sure that your process considers what will happen if you actually achieve the goals you are working towards. What if you don't really want all that fame? What if you just think somehow that's what you SHOULD want?
Peter Drucker said: "Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work." It's not just figuring out what you want to be doing, it's also carrying out that plan.
What gets in the way of success? Perhaps it's a lack of commitment. Maybe the goal is just so big that it intimidates you. Maybe you don't really know what the next step is.
Remember: Antoine de Saint-Exupery said: "A goal without a plan is just a wish."
Onward and upward, as they say.
It is, after all, a new year!
If you are a member you can read more on line.
Or -- Join now!
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Getting word of mouth to work for you
by Sarah Wright, MS, ACT
You want to get the word out about who you are. You want your phone start to ringing with calls from people seeking your services. But you're not sure what's the best way to go about it.
I'd suggest reading Malcolm Gladwell's Tipping Point in which he talks about how ideas and products sometimes behave just like outbreaks of infectious disease. They go from obscure to fads, seemingly overnight.
To move your practice past the tipping point, you need to "infect" certain people with knowledge of your services.
If you are a member you can read more on line.
Or -- Join now!
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More grim reality: Getting established as a coach
by Ken Zaretzky, MCC
You've managed to put your name everywhere. You're in advertisements and on the speakers' circuit. You've talked to everyone related to your specialty. You're constantly at meetings where you are either attending or speaking. Whenever someone talks about you or your coaching specialty, you show up automatically. You are BEING THERE.
However, you aren't making money. In fact, you're running out of it!
My experience is that it takes at least a year-and-a-half to get a coaching practice off the ground. It is extremely important for a coach who is starting out to have some other significant income in order to survive in the beginning.
Read Ken Zaretzky's short chapter on doing what you have to do to make money and on being patient.
The above is an excerpt from Ken Zaretzky's book "How It's Done 101" which is available only from howitsdone101.com . Copyright 2005, 2006 by Ken Zaretzky, MCC. All Rights Reserved
If you are a member you can read more on line.
Or -- Join now!
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Thanks for reading
Next issue of Circle will be about coaching around self esteem. How do you work with clients who have too little, or too much? How do you get them to acknowledge it at all? Let me know. Drop me a note. editor@adhdcoaches.org
At this time we can't pay writers who submit articles to this newsletter, but we'll give you credit and links as appropriate. We appreciate hearing from you by the 15th of the month if you are considering an article for the upcoming issue. Final submission is due by the 20th. Sometimes we'll elect to hold an article for later publication.
Writers' guidelines are available on line at this minute at newsletter.adhdcoaches.org/writersguidelines.html
I'm looking forward to making this publication top notch. So if you've got any questions, comments, concerns or gripes, please drop me a note. It does no good to grumble alone!
Onward and upward!
Kerch McConlogue, CPCC, PCC
Editor
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